DBM says safeguards in place vs. questionable infrastructure projects in 2027 budget

MANILA — The Department of Budget and Management on Thursday assured senators it is implementing reforms to avoid the inclusion in the 2027 national budget of questionable infrastructure projects.

DBM Acting Secretary Kim Robert de Leon told the Senate Subcommittee on Finance during its budget briefing that it has stricter vetting of infrastructure projects, including requiring the submission of geotagged photographs and other documents.

He said this is departure from the previous practice of just getting a list of projects and including these in the National Expenditure Program. 

He said the department was able to spot potential duplicate or non-existent projects, and those with incorrect geotags “at an earlier stage”. 

He added that they have agreed with the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development to start preparations for the 2028 budget , particularly for infrastructure and investment projects.

He said projects need to go through Regional Development Councils for potential inclusion in future NEPs.

“And we will put premium on all RDC-endorsed projects,” he said.

DBM has also reminded agencies to update their masterplans and to develop multi-year programming “to make sure projects are implementation ready.”  

In their initial review, Senate Finance Committee Chairperson JV Ejercito said about 10,145 projects or 88.84% of the total have no supporting documents, while 48 projects are absent from the DPWH evaluation portal.

De Leon said they share some similar findings, but noted that some projects are lumped in one folder. 

As for the reduction of funding for Foreign-Assisted Projects, Ejercito said he hopes they can arrive at a compromise with the House of Representatives, which cut the allocation by P130 billion.

“I think that we really have to honor our obligations kasi baka hindi na kayo makaulit (we might not get the assistance again),” he said.

De Leon said the executive branch’s initial recommended allocation for Foreign-Assisted Projects was due to  the Philippines’ commitment to development partners and to Filipinos who are supposed to benefit from railway and infrastructure projects.  

“Kung magkaroon man po ng reduction is malilimitahan po muli yung kakayahan ng ating mga agencies na makapag-accelerate ng kanilang implementation,” he said.

(If there will be a reduction, it will again limit our agencies’ abilities to accelerate implementation of the projects.)

He added that the government has used unprogrammed appropriations in 2026 and in previous years to fill shortfalls in the “loan proceeds component” of the Foreign-Assisted Projects.

De Leon said the Supreme Court decision on unprogrammed funds will affect money that has been earmarked for Foreign-Assisted Projects.

He said he hopes Congress will support the executive branch in making sure committed priority infrastructure projects under the Department of Transportation and Department of Public Works and Highways and other agencies are implemented and completed.